Second effort

Wildcats 'D' shuts down Tigers after intermission

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Class 4A football playoffs did not have a pleasant start for second-ranked Calallen, but at least there was a good ending for the team.

The Wildcats surrendered the most points they had all season -- and that was before halftime. Host Calallen had the offense to stay with Mercedes in the Division II bi-district game Friday night. The Wildcats just needed the defense to slow down the Tigers.

That's just what happened. Calallen's defense turned in an exceptional performance in the second half. The Wildcats twice held Mercedes on fourth down in the second half, turning the game around with key stops for a 31-22 victory and the right to meet Port Lavaca Calhoun in next week's area round. The teams will play at 1 p.m. Friday in Victoria.

Alex Trevino scored all three Tigers' touchdowns in the first half, including a 90-yard scoring catch from quarterback Albert Chavez that stunned Calallen (11-0), which entered halftime trailing for the first time this year, 22-18.

They previously had not given up more than 21 points in a game this season.

"That was a big surprise," Calallen running back/defensive back Bryden McClure said. "They had speed we hadn't seen before from their running back (Trevino). Their quarterback had an arm we didn't expect. But (the comeback) shows good signs for us for the second round, third round, trying to take it to state."

Wildcats reserve quarterback Dustin Vaughan engineered a scoring drive on the second possession of the third quarter for a 24-22 lead. Then it was up to the defense.

With 2 minutes, 20 seconds left in the third, Chavez was stuffed on a fourth-and-one at the Calallen 49.

On the very next drive, Mercedes (6-5) faced fourth-and-10 at the Wildcats 35. Chavez was sacked to stall the threat and keep Calallen's 2-point lead intact.

"At that point in the game, Mercedes had all the momentum," McClure said. "That was big to shut their drive down, their team down, and get us going in the second half."

McClure then applied the coup de grace. He raced 64 yards for a touchdown on the Wildcats' next offensive play. That tore into the Tigers. Game over.

"That was the turning point," Calallen coach Phil Danaher said. "When we got the stops, we executed. That last big play kind of broke their back."